Lee County approves $20 million land purchase for Red Sox complex

LEE COUNTY - Lee County commissioners today approved the purchase of land to build the new Boston Red Sox spring training facility.

Commissioners had questions over planning deadlines, zoning, future purchase options and the de-annexation of the land from the city of Fort Myers. The $20 million purchase of 106 acres from Watermen-Pinnacle Development would include commitments by the seller to seek and pay for certain permits, as well as an option for the county to buy another 4 acres at $275,000 per acre.

The Sox would also buy 20 acres of prime Daniels Parkway outparcels for $5.5 million. The county has until May 2010 to buy four of those acres.

Commissioners approved the purchase agreement by a 3-2 vote. The money will come from a loan commissioners are debating from property taxes collected in the unincorporated county. The loan would be repaid from tourist taxes.

Commissioners Brian Bigelow and Frank Mann voted against the purchase based on financing coming from property tax reserves.

"In the final analysis it's impossible for me to justify to voters they paid property taxes in the years prior to fund a $77 million wish list for the Boston Red Sox," Bigelow said.

Red Sox CEO Mike Dee said the team stepped in late in the negotiations to buy 20 acres to preserve their control over the land.

"Simply stated, without the deal the Red Sox negotiated the county deal would have been for considerably more," he said.

Dee said the team hadn't planned on being a landowner, but it was critical to maintain control over the outparcels.

Dee also said that for the team the project is not about the $75 million estimate and financing number.

"From the Red Sox point of view it's never been about the number," he said. "The development agreement has very specific program requirements."

If stadium construction bids are low and the requirements can be met for less than the $75 million, Dee said, the team doesn't care. If meeting the requirements costs more than $75 million that's what the team expects.

"We focus on the program, not the cost," Dee said. "It's too early to be fixated on a number."

Dee has accepted a new job as CEO of the Miami Dolphins, a job he's already started. His last day with the Red Sox is June 15.

Overseeing the stadium project will be Jonathan Gilula, the Red Sox senior vice president of business operations. Dee said the job would have been Gilula's whether he remained with the team or not.

Gilula also stressed that for the Sox the deal from this point forward will be about fulfilling the requirements laid out in the agreement.

"We're focused on the program, not the cost," he said.

Watermen-Pinnacle paid $16 million for the property five years ago, said company vice president Eddy Garcia. Garcia said the company had been ready to keep the 20 acres the Red Sox bought had an agreement not been reached.

County Commission Chairman Ray Judah, who's pushed the Sox deal since day one, said that the deal is a good business decision for Lee County.

"It's really up to us to stimulate our Lee County economy," he said. "This is one of the few businesses showing a positive cash flow."